Man accused of defacing racist billboardHARRISON (AP) — An Arkansas man is accused of defacing a billboard that carried a racist message. The Harrison Daily Times reported Thursday that Chad Watkins, 47, was arrested on a misdemeanor criminal mischief charge. He was released on $2,500 bond. A billboard along a Harrison highway had read "Anti-Racist is a Code Word for Anti-White." Police said a witness saw people paint "Love" over "Anti-White" last month. The police chief and city at...

Salesville man gets 14-year term in shooting deathMOUNTAIN HOME (AP) — A Salesville man has pleaded guilty to manslaughter and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Johnnie Carl Baker faced a second-degree murder charge in the Nov. 12, 2012, death of 65-year-old Dennis Franklin Chapman of Salesville. Baker, who is 48, insisted he accidentally shot Chapman while at a home in Norfork. The Baxter Bulletin reported Thursday that Baker told Judge John Putman the weapon fired while being oiled. Investig...

Armed domestic disturbance leave 1 deadAUSTIN (AP) — Arkansas State Police agents are investigating a domestic disturbance in Lonoke County that left one person dead and another wounded. Officials say the disturbance occurred Thursday in Austin. Sheriff's deputies were called to a residence about 8:30 a.m. and found Charlie Bryant outside the home with a single gunshot wound. Deputies found the body of Bryant's wife, Sharae, near a vehicle parked at the home. She had also sustained...

Bond hearings (Dec. 19, 2013)The following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings Wednesday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Jan. 13 in Circuit Court. • Angela McConnell, 40, failure to appear — $200,000. Charges were filed against McConnell on Dec. 12 after she did not appear for a Dec. 3 Circuit Court date for robbery and theft of property charges. McConnell said s...

Man makes bomb threat after high-speed chaseMENA —A pursuit that began in Yell County came to an end in Polk County after a suspect threatened to use a bomb. Deputies with the Yell County Sheriff’s Office were out with a suspect on a traffic stop late Saturday night. While speaking with the driver, the suspect attempted to drive off. Deputies then reached into the vehicle to turn off the ignition. The driver than sped away, resulting in two deputies being dragged a short distance. Yell ...

Babysitter accused of sexual assaultCOAL HILL — A Coal Hill man was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault against a minor following a joint investigation of the Coal Hill Police Department and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO). Timothy Paul Cook, AKA Timmy Robbs, 18, was ordered held on $25,000 bond by Circuit Judge Mac McCain on Monday and charged with third-degree sexual assault, a class C felony. Coal Hill police received a report on Sunday that a 4-year-old female had...

Bond hearings (Dec. 17, 2013)The following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Jan. 13 in Circuit Court. • Beau Gumm, 32, violation of omnibus DWI act — $15,000. According to court documents, charges were filed recently against Gumm following a June 14 incident. Officers allegedly responded to a call and found Gumm slumped i...

Several arrests on alleged drug salesA number of felony charges related to selling illegal drugs were filed last week by the Fifth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney's office. Several arrests have already been made in conjunction with those charges, mostly related to the selling of methamphetamine or crack cocaine. In felony bond hearings Monday, a dozen suspects appeared before District Judge Don Bourne, nine of whom are suspected of selling or intending to sell drugs. Kimbe...

Her gets two life sentences in murderCLARKSVILLE — After less than two hours of deliberations, the jury found Kou Her guilty of first-degree murder, aggravated residential burglary, attempted kidnapping, first-degree battery and aggravated assault. Her, 22, was handed life sentences for the two most serious charges, 30 years for the attempted kidnapping, 15 years for first-degree battery and two years for aggravated assault. Judge William Pearson, following the jury’s recommendat...

Witnesses, analysts testify in murder trialCLARKSVILLE — Jurors heard testimony from witnesses and analysts Wednesday in the trial for a man accused of stabbing to death a six-year-old girl earlier this year. Kou Her, 22, is accused of stabbing Autumn Vang on May 10 while allegedly attempting to kidnap Linda Xiong, Vang’s 14-year-old aunt, who shared a bed with the girl. Vang died from her injuries six days later at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Her is charged with first-degree murder,...

Murder trial begins in ClarksvilleCLARKSVILLE — The trial is underway for a man accused in the stabbing death earlier this year of a 6-year-old girl. Kou Her, 22, is accused of stabbing Autumn Vang on May 10 during the alleged attempted kidnapping of the girl’s 14-year-old aunt, Linda Xiong. Vang succumbed to her injuries six days later at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Her is charged with first-degree murder, attempted kidnapping, aggravated residential burglary...

Bond Hearings (Dec. 9, 2013)The following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Jan. 6 in Circuit Court. • Adrian Turner, 25, theft of property — $15,000. Turner was arrested following the Dec. 4 theft of a utility trailer from a church parking lot. Investigators received a call from an employee at River Valley Recycling who ...

Pope County to offer amnesty programPersons with misdemeanor warrants in Pope County have the opportunity to take advantage of a misdemeanor amnesty program. Following the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, which implemented a similar program last week, Pope County Sheriff Aaron DuVall announced his department would offer a misdemeanor amnesty program beginning Monday and continue through Jan. 17, 2014. To participate, persons with misdemeanor warrants should turn themselves in du...

Sheriff offers holiday amnestyCLARKSVILLE — Persons with misdemeanor warrants in Johnson County can avoid jail time by taking advantage of a holiday offer by the Sheriff’s Department. Johnson County Sheriff Jimmy Dorney said this week his department will offer amnesty to persons with a misdemeanor warrant through the end of the month. Anyone with a misdemeanor warrant may turn themselves in, pay 10 percent toward the total of the warrant and be released with a court date i...

Bond hearings (Dec. 3, 2013)The following individuals appeared in felony bond hearings Monday at the Pope County Detention Center. Their names, ages, anticipated charges and bond amounts are listed. If charged, they will appear Jan. 6 in Circuit Court. n Khiyenne Daniel, 18, check fraud — $10,000. Daniel was taken into custody Nov. 30 after attempting to cash a check at Kroger. A police report stated she tried to cash a check that came back with an error message. Daniel ...

3 accused of forgery, theftThree individuals appeared in bond hearings Monday on suspicion of forgery and theft of property charges. Bond was set at $50,000 each for April Sue Hubbard, 34, and April Mechille Hubbard, 33, and at $75,000 for Jackie Hubbard, 31. Russellville Police Department (RPD) officers were dispatched to Harps on Nov. 23 for suspected forgery and theft of property. An investigator testified Monday the three suspects were at Harps in Russellville and p...